A low-profile wide-beam antenna for RFID chip timing systems

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Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is a growing technology with a world market currently evaluated at $9 billion. As passive RFID chip tags have become smaller and cheaper, they have been introduced into many different industries, including the timing and tracking of sporting race participants. The RF antenna is a critical component in any race timing system. The antennas must be easy-to-set-up while providing sufficient radiative coverage to accurately and reliably tag every race participant. In this project, a low-profile wide-beam antenna will be investigated for a race timing system. A high-impedance surface will be used to provide the reflection phase necessary to enhance the radiation characteristics of wide beam antenna. The challenge will be in providing a low enough profile to meet the industrial partners specifications, while staying within the limits imposed by standard low-cost printed circuit board manufacturing processes. This project will consist of designing the high-impedance surface, the printed antenna, and the matched feed network.